Demo Taped

by Nicole Juliette Hetlyn

I caught up with Adam Alexander, aka Demo Taped, to talk about everything from his music to depression to thrift store shopping. Check out what this artist on the rise had to say in this exclusive Nashville interview:

Your music is about positivity and spreading love, and has such good vibes. Can you explain to someone who has never heard your music before, who you are as an artist and what your ultimate message it?

I would say that my ultimate message would be to spread positivity, love, and good vibes wherever I go. That is my main goal, it’s something that we need right now and something that I want to provide. In the show, I talk about my depression and my anxiety that I struggled with in the past. I put that out there, I tell it like it is. The main point in that is not to make anyone feel weird, it’s the exact opposite; I want people to know that they are not alone. If they are going through something, it’s not some kind of crazy phenomenon. Everyone goes through it, but not many people talk about it, so I want to talk about it as much as possible so that there is no stigma or weird feelings around that subject.

That leads into my next question. Writing about such a personal topic, so you find it harder to write these things or more so therapeutic to be able to release the positive energy?

I find it really easy. I’ve dealt with it for so long, and I’m just not getting to a really good place. I’ve dealt with this since seventh grade, and when it’s happening for that long, you become kind of sensitized. It’s kind of become a norm for me and it’s not hard to talk about it since I’ve been to therapists and places where you learn how to cope with different things. Now, it’s more of openly discussing it, since it’s part of my life and I’m being true to myself by talking about it.

I saw that you were interested in studying film. If your life was a movie, who would you want to play you? What song would be playing during the credits?

I like this question, but it’s tough! Song, I can definitely pick. The song has got to be “Forever Young” by Alphaville. I actually covered that song a while back, I really love that song. Who to play me, hmm… The actor who was in “Dope.” Have you seen that movie? It’s about kids stuck in the 90’s, and a punk band. The main character, he’s a really good actor! He’s a lot taller than me though (laughs). Everyone is a lot taller than me!! I think that would be cool though.

I also know that you love thrift stores. What has been one of your greatest finds so far while thrift shopping?

I have this jacket that I can’t wear anymore, I’m pretty sad. It’s a corduroy jacket with faux fur on the inside, it’s so nice and it was really warm, perfect for winter. I got another one recently, because that one smelled like a used bookstore! I really liked that jacket, but I can’t wear it anymore.

You've done some recent collaborations. Which has been your favorite? What is your dream collaboration?

My favorite collaboration so far has been a song I did called “Open Arms” with RXCB. I’m really proud of that one because we went into the studio, it was our first time ever working together, and we finished the song in one day. It was incredible. I did some finishing touches later on, but to do the whole song in one day is something I would have never expected, with complete strangers at that point. And that song is doing really well right now which is really exciting because it gives you a boost of confidence, it’s really nice! My dream collaboration would be with... well, there’s two. It would either be with MF Doom or Bill Murray (laughs). I want to get him on a track, I don’t know what or when, but I think it would be great. It would be so amazing (keeps laughing). MF Doom would be really cool though, I love his flow, it’s so unique and the rhyme scheme is insane. It would be really cool. Or the two on the same song (laughs), that would be insane. It would be worldly!

What does 2017 have in store for you?

I have a song coming out at the end of this year, but next year I will be working on my next EP. Definitely planning my album and putting a lot of work into that. I think I have a couple festivals lined up for next year, so that will be a lot of fun. Bill Murray is on the agenda! But mostly working on the new EP, trying to get that as nice as possible.

Nashville is known as Music City. So many people that move here are trying to make it in the industry. What advice would you give to them?

Now is the time; there is so much access to people. It’s a lot easier than it was years ago to break out and to get going in the industry. Do as much as you can, be on every social media. Sell yourself and get your music out there to as many people out there and get a lot of coverage. Keep experimenting and find your sound, that’s really important. You can compare yourself to another artist at first, but then be you and find what you like. Find what sounds good and how your voice works and your playing style. Get in tune with what you do and how you do things. It will be easier to find that sound. Once you really find that sound and get comfortable, people can tell and will catch on to it. So be as natural as possible.